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From Manchester Airport , ten miles south of the city, direct trains run to Piccadilly (every 15min 5.15am-10.15pm, reduced service through the night; 25min) and cost £2.35, £2.80 on weekdays before 9.30am. A taxi from the airport to the centre costs £12-15.

Mainline trains pull into Piccadilly Station , on the city's east side, from where you can walk the few hundred yards west into the centre (or catch the free Centreline bus #4 every 10min, not Sunday, to all main locations). Regional trains to points south, east and west call both here and at Oxford Road Station , south of the centre, while Victoria Station , in the north, services the northern hinterland and Bradford. National Express and long-distance buses use Chorlton Street Coach Station , a few hundred yards west of Piccadilly train station.

The Manchester Visitor Centre is in the town hall extension on Lloyd Street, facing St Peter's Square (Mon-Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun 11am-4pm; tel 0161/234 3157 or 0906/8715 533; ). To find out what's on , buy the fortnightly City Life magazine ( ), from any newsstand.

Piccadilly Gardens Bus Station is the hub of the urban bus network, though a new transport interchange at Shudehill (north of the Arndale Centre; due for completion by 2003) may affect the location of some routes. Information about all services is available from the Travel Shop, in Piccadilly Gardens (Mon-Sat 7am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm); or call the GMPTE Travel Line (tel 0161/228 7811; daily 8am-8pm). A Day Saver ticket (£3) gives unlimited travel on any city bus. Metrolink (tel 0161/205 2000) - the electric tram service - whisks through the city centre and out to the suburbs (every 6-15min 6am-11.30pm). There are stations at Piccadilly Station, Piccadilly Gardens, St Peter's Square, G-Mex, Market Street and Victoria Station, though (trips to Salford Quays aside) you're unlikely to use the system for getting around, unless you simply fancy the ride.